The tape of President-elect Donald Trump The sentencing hearing in New York City opened to the public on Friday, providing a glimpse into the unprecedented sentencing of a former president that ultimately saw Trump given an unconditional discharge.

““This was a very terrible experience,” Trump, who virtually attended the criminal case hearing, said in a New York courtroom on Friday morning. “I think it was a huge setback for New York and the New York court system.”

“This is a case that Alvin Bragg did not want to make. He believed, as I have read and heard, that he was treated inappropriately before he got there. And a gentleman from a law firm came in and acted as district attorney,” the president-elect continued. “And this gentleman, from what I heard, was a criminal, or almost a criminal, in what he did. That was very inappropriate. It was someone who was involved with my political opponent.”

“I think it’s an embarrassment for New York and New York has a lot of problems, but this is a big embarrassment,” he added.

DONALD TRUMP SENTENCED WITHOUT A CRIMINAL TRIAL IN NEW YORK BECAUSE THE JUDGE WISHED HIM “A LOT OF SPEED” IN THE 2ND PERSON

Judge Juan Merchan (left) and President-elect Donald Trump.

At one point, Trump leaned forward, looked at Judge Juan Merchan, and pointed to the November election, suggesting that it represented a rejection of this case.

““It was a political witch hunt,” Trump said. “It was done to tarnish my reputation so that I would lose the election.” And obviously that didn’t work. And the people of our country saw this firsthand because they watched the case in your courtroom. They could see this first hand. And then they voted and I won.

Assistant District Attorney Josh Steinglass stated that this was the case “He was critical of Trump, claiming the president-elect had “caused lasting damage to the public’s perception of the criminal justice system and put the court’s officials in danger.”” with the statements he made publicly during the trial.

“I strongly disagree with much of what the government has just said about this case, about the legitimacy of what happened in this courtroom during the trial, and about President Trump’s conduct in fighting this case from before from indictment to indictment “The jury’s verdict depends on it, and it does to this day,” Trump lawyer Todd Blanche said in response to the indictment.

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Former President Donald Trump appears in court for his arraignment before Judge Juan Merchan after surrendering to New York authorities in New York County Criminal Court earlier this year. (Photo by Seth Wenig-Pool via USA TODAY)

During the hearing, Judge Juan Merchan defended the actions he had taken over time.

“Imposing a sentence is one of the most difficult decisions a criminal judge must make,” Merchan said, noting that the court must “take into account the facts of the case and any aggravating or mitigating circumstances.”

Reflecting on the case, Merchan said: “Never before have such unique circumstances been presented to this court.” The judge said it was an “extraordinary case” with media attention and heightened security, but said the trial itself “was not “more unique or extraordinary” than any other case once the courtroom doors were closed.

Merchan acknowledged that Trump has significant legal protections, but argued that “one power they do not grant is the power to overturn a jury verdict.”

““Sir, I wish you the best of luck in your second term,” Merchan said at the end of the hearing.

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Judge Juan Merchan briefs the jury before deliberations during the criminal trial of Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump on allegations that he falsified business records to hide money he paid in 2016 to silence porn star Stormy Daniels , in May 29, 2024 in Manhattan State Court in New York City in this court sketch. (REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg)

Merchan’s unconditional discharge sentence means there will be no punishment: no jail time, fines or probation. The ruling also preserves Trump’s ability to appeal the ruling.

“After careful analysis, this court concluded that the only lawful judgment that allows for the entry of a judgment of conviction is an unconditional discharge,” Merchan said Friday. “At this time, I impose this sentence on all 34 counts.”

Trump’s team said in court that they will appeal the ruling and he will be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on January 20.

Brooke Singman of Fox News Digital contributed to this report